The Ghost of Downtown - By Robin Laffier

in 1886 the Lister building was erected on the corner of King William and James Streets. In 1922 The property was one of the most active commercial areas in the city, filled to capacity, having 150 tenants.

On February 23, 1923, the cherished Lister building of downtown Hamilton was struck by one of the most destructive and spectacular fires ever seen by the city. Despite the exterior being made of quarried limestone, the building went up in a flash because the interior walls and floor were wooden.

Premier McGuinty said this on the revitalization of the Lister building: "The Lister Block restoration will not only revitalize downtown Hamilton, it will create new high-value jobs and strengthen the city for future generations."

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